AMA Begins Lock-up Exercise for Unpaid Rates and Fees in Accra

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced a stringent revenue enforcement exercise set to begin on Monday, June 22, 2026, targeting businesses and property owners with outstanding financial obligations. This move underscores the Assembly’s commitment to bolstering internally generated funds to sustain essential municipal services.

According to the AMA, the exercise will focus on two primary categories of defaulters: businesses that have not settled their Business Operating Permit (BOP) fees and property owners with arrears in property rates or rent. Authorised AMA officers, accompanied by relevant enforcement agencies, will proceed to lock up and temporarily close the premises of those found in violation until all outstanding payments are cleared.

The Assembly emphasized that the payment of rates, permit fees, and rent is not merely a civic duty but a statutory obligation enshrined in local governance legislation. These revenues form a critical backbone for financing infrastructure development, sanitation services, public health initiatives, and other essential urban management functions. To streamline the payment process, the AMA has introduced convenient mobile shortcodes. Property owners can settle their rates by dialing *222*55# on their mobile phones, while businesses can pay BOP fees using *222*33#. The Assembly warned that failure to comply could result in penalties under the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and applicable AMA by-laws, in addition to the immediate inconvenience of premises closure.

In a public statement, the AMA urged all affected parties to cooperate fully with the enforcement exercise and settle their outstanding obligations without delay. The Assembly highlighted that timely payment is essential to avoid disruptions to business operations and property use, and reiterated that effective revenue mobilisation is indispensable for achieving its vision of a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Accra. This initiative is part of a broader pattern of fiscal discipline by the AMA. Recent actions include halting construction projects at North Kaneshie due to building permit verification issues and imposing fines on offenders during National Sanitation Day exercises. The Assembly has consistently maintained that strict adherence to local regulations is fundamental to promoting orderly urban development and safeguarding public resources. As Accra continues to grapple with rapid urbanisation and increasing demands on municipal services, the AMA’s enforcement exercise represents a proactive measure to ensure that those who benefit from city amenities contribute fairly to their upkeep. The success of this initiative will likely be measured not only by the amount of revenue recovered but also by the level of compliance it fosters among the city’s businesses and residents.

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